Falklands War Begins
Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, starting the 74-day war with Britain
April 02, 1982
A Remote War in the South Atlantic
The Falklands War began on April 2, 1982, when Argentine military forces invaded the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean about 300 miles off the coast of Argentina. Argentine forces quickly overwhelmed the small British garrison of Royal Marines. Argentina had long claimed sovereignty over the islands, which it calls the Malvinas, and the military junta governing Argentina at the time hoped that seizing them would boost their popularity at home amid a severe economic crisis and widespread human rights abuses. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher responded with a decision that surprised much of the world: she dispatched a naval task force of over 100 ships to retake the islands.
The Task Force and the Fighting
The British task force sailed nearly 8,000 miles to the South Atlantic, while diplomats worked unsuccessfully to find a peaceful resolution. South Georgia, another British territory seized by Argentina, was recaptured on April 25. The British then landed on the main islands on May 21, 1982, at San Carlos Water on East Falkland. The Argentine air force launched fierce attacks on the British fleet during the landings, sinking several ships including HMS Sheffield and Atlantic Conveyor. British forces fought their way across difficult terrain in harsh winter conditions toward the capital, Stanley. Key battles were fought at Goose Green, Mount Longdon, Tumbledown, and Wireless Ridge.
Victory and Its Consequences
Argentine forces surrendered on June 14, 1982, just 74 days after the initial invasion. The war cost the lives of 255 British military personnel and approximately 649 Argentine soldiers. Three Falkland Island civilians also died. The British victory had significant political consequences. It boosted Thatcher's popularity in Britain and contributed to her landslide election victory in 1983. In Argentina, the humiliating defeat discredited the military junta and accelerated its collapse, leading to a return to democratic governance in 1983. The Falkland Islanders themselves voted overwhelmingly in a 2013 referendum to remain a British Overseas Territory. Argentina continues to claim sovereignty over the islands.